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7/02/2013 5:28 PM  #1


shock tower braces

On my '65, the shock tower braces bolt into brackets that are part of the shock towers and go to the cowl where they bolt to the cowl.  What is the common way to install an aftermarket one piece export brace?  I have the RRS McPherson strut front suspension.  Thanks


"when I drop something, it always goes to center of the car"
 

7/02/2013 6:45 PM  #2


Re: shock tower braces

I cut my brackets off.  Since nothing was going to bolt to them, they are just extra weight.


Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
 

7/02/2013 7:28 PM  #3


Re: shock tower braces

The one piece export brace attaches to the same place as the orginal braces at the firewall side - you might have to drill a couple of new holes depending on what brace you get as the spacing varies (Shelby style braces spread the holes out evenly across the back of the brace). The shock tower ends just sandwich between the shock mounts and the tower or in your case between the upper strut plate and the shock tower using the same three bolt holes that secure the strut plate. Get a Monte Carlo bar too if you don't already have one as the combination of the two parts is much more effective. You should notice a significant difference in the way the car feels with these installed. They really should have been standard equipment.

As Steve said you can cut off the old brace mounts at the shock towers, they don't really weigh anything but you'll gain some work clearance by getting rid of them.


(Pinto!)
 

7/02/2013 7:31 PM  #4


Re: shock tower braces

Just drill out the spot welds and they will come right off. I was surprised how easy it was to do. Sand and paint and you will never know they were there. 

As for the export brace, I got a piece of angle iron and bolted it to the firewall under the pinchweld for extra support. Drilled holes thru the angle where the export brace bolted on and used grade 8 hardware to hold it all together. At the shock towers, use the existing three bolts that held your shock caps on and 
lay the brace over them and bolt it on. 

I'm really happy with mine. 


Good, fast or cheap. Pick any two...
 

7/02/2013 8:07 PM  #5


Re: shock tower braces

Note too. Somtimes those one peice braces end up being ah little too big where it meets the cowl and may need a little trimmed off the back. Also it's recomended you install it with the car sitting on jack stands just behind the torque boxes,so as to let the front of the car sag down. This can also solve the problem of the brace being too big..


It's hard to type "funny"
 

7/04/2013 5:06 PM  #6


Re: shock tower braces

Thanks everyone for the information.


"when I drop something, it always goes to center of the car"
     Thread Starter
 

Board footera


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